Tanaka Juri: At the core of it all is the spirit of adventure and the joy of experiencing the unreal.

actress　Chinese Chinese　(Tanaka Shuri)
Born on February 1998, 12 in Kyoto Prefecture.
In 2019, she appeared in NHK's "That's Why I Pushed You." In 2020, her portrayal of the role of Hongo Hitoha in MBS/TBS's "O Maidens in Your Savage Season" drew attention, and in the same year she gave an amazing performance as Soejima Kaoru in the streaming drama "Yokai Ningen Bella - Episode 0." In January of this year, she played the lead role in the stage play "BASARA," expanding the scope of her activities.

Actress Tanaka Juri has appeared in many dramas and stage plays since she was a teenager, and in her first starring role in the film "Disco's High" she plays the main character, Binshi Nadeshiko. "Until now I've mostly played unique roles," she says, so we spoke to her about the appeal and joy of acting, the areas in which she feels she has grown so far, and the roles she would like to try in the future.

The desire to "challenge various things" is the driving force

My mother was an amateur singer, and I have loved singing since I was a child. I also joined a theater troupe when I was in the second grade of elementary school, and naturally became interested in acting, so I wanted to work in singing or acting in the future. Then, when I was selected as a finalist in the 13th All-Japan National Beauty Contest, I decided to enter the entertainment industry.

Since my first appearance in a drama at the age of 16, I have taken on many different roles. I personally feel that the characters I have played so far have been quite unique, but that is what makes my job so enjoyable. For example, in the drama "Yokai Ningen Bella - Episode 0", I played the role of a strong-willed bully, which was the most difficult role I have played so far, but the more I played it, the more stimulating it became. There were many scenes that required a lot of physical effort, such as filming with fake blood smeared all over my body, but I personally found the feeling of being in a surreal world to be very enjoyable.

I wonder why I always end up playing unusual roles (laughs). Maybe it's because my underlying spirit of adventure is coming through. I've always had the desire to try new things, and I'm always excited to play different, unique characters. I think one of the great attractions of acting is being able to experience extraordinary things that I would never experience in my own life. When I'm acting and I'm able to break out of my shell through a role, I feel truly rewarded and happy. In order to savor those moments, I approach my work with sincerity. I don't want to have any regrets, so I'm always conscious of giving 100% of my ability. I even take the script to the bathroom and read it until it's falling apart, and I strive to understand every role, no matter how different it is from me. If my enthusiasm comes through and I'm offered the job, I'd be truly grateful.

"Disco's High" was a very special place."

First of all, the set of "Disco's High" was quite unique (laughs). First of all, I had never seen a set where the director was so active. There were some problems that are unique to a filming set, but there was a homely atmosphere centered around the director, and I was able to act in a relaxed manner. Above all, all the staff involved in this production had a really high morale of "Let's all work together to create something great!", which inspired me to "try harder."

The character I played this time, Heishi Nadeko, was a woman who, even if she had something to say about those around her, chose not to say it out loud and kept her emotions in check. She appears strong to those around her, but in reality she is a bit clumsy and has some weak points, which linked to my own personality in some ways and I could relate to her in many ways. That's why I think Nadeko's earnest, hard-working attitude will resonate with many people. I would definitely like young people of my generation to watch this movie.

Your rival is always yourself

I've been working in the entertainment industry since I was a teenager, and recently I've become less nervous, in a good way. In the past, I had a lot of worries about things other than acting, like communicating with the director or keeping a distance from my co-stars, but now that I'm no longer nervous, I can concentrate on my acting on set. I feel like I've grown a lot in that regard.

Of course, I still get nervous sometimes. For example, I used to be an idol, so I had many opportunities to interact with people older than me, so I get a little nervous when working with people my age. In particular, when I'm acting with actresses of the same generation, I feel a strong sense of rivalry and don't want to lose. However, rather than wanting to be like someone, I feel more strongly that I don't want to lose to myself. Rather than thinking of the people around me as my enemy, I always think of myself as my rival.

My biggest goal is to become a unique actress

My strength is that I can do anything while having fun. That's why I want to take on any job and continue to break out of my shell. I have a strong spirit for challenges, and I always want to do things that no one has ever done before. Right now, the thing I most want to try is a completely "crazy" role. I want to play a character whose actions, words, and everything else are considered alien. For example, a murderer...?! Because the more different the role is from my own personality and values, the more fun I find acting. I want to experience more diverse works and act in a way that will surprise the audience. I think there are many wonderful actresses with all kinds of unique personalities, but rather than becoming "someone," I want to perfect myself and become a one-of-a-kind actress.

Message to university students

I hope you will continue to speak out loud about the things you want to do. Even if you don't say it out loud, I think it's important to express yourself in any way, such as writing it down. By letting it all out and not keeping it to yourself, someone may listen and lead to the next step or your dreams may come true. Don't be shy, try to speak out about anything you want to do, even if it's just a little.

Student Newspaper Online August 14, 2022 Interview by Miyu Ito, 3th year student at Keio University